Simple things you can do to get big eye health benefits

Having good eye sight is important and we should never neglect our eye health.

Here are some expert tips on how we can all take steps each day to protect our sight and look after our eyes.

Eat eye-healthy foods

A nutritious diet has benefits for all types of health conditions, but some foods are particularly beneficial for eyes.

Fatty fish such as tuna, herring or sardines are rich in omega-3 which nourish the cell membranes of nerve cells, including the retina, and help prevent the onset of eye diseases linked to ageing.

Including fruits and vegetables in your diet, especially clementines, oranges and mandarins, blueberries, carrots, and spinach, and broccoli, can also boost eye health thanks to being rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which help protect the cornea and lens of the eye, prevent cataracts, and prevent eye fatigue.

Head outside

Associate Professor Scott Read from Queensland University of Technology, Australia, says spending more time in natural light is one of his top five everyday tips for keeping your eyes healthy.

Heading outdoors will give eyes a chance to focus on things further away and have a rest from close-up work, and it also exposes our eyes to brighter outdoor light which appears to reduce our risks of developing short-sightedness (myopia.)

He also adds that ideally, children should spend at least two hours a day outside to help prevent the condition from developing and progressing.

Spending time outside may reduce the risk of shortsightedness.

Don’t smoke

Kicking the habit can have a positive effect on all areas of health, but Professor Read explains that quitting smoking is also important for eye health.

It also helps maintain a healthy weight which reduces the risk of diabetes, which can also cause eye problems.

Get you eyes tested regularly.

Get regular checkups

Professor Read also says that getting to know your own and your family’s eye health history is important so make sure you go for regular checkups, especially if there are hereditary eye conditions.

Marcela Frazier from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in the US, also recommends watching out for any eye problems in kids, which can become more noticeable once they start school.

She advises looking out for any complaints of headaches, being tired after reading, squinting, holding books close to the eyes, and even poor school and sports performance, which can all be a result of changes in vision.

Reduce screen time

Managing how long you look at your screens (phone or computer) may be something you should start doing.

Spending two hours or more a day staring at your digital devices, whether it is for work or play, may result in something called digital eye strain.

Spending too much time on your digital devices may be very bad for your eyes.

Digital eye strain is a condition that causes temporary physical discomfort according to a report by The Vision Council.

To avoid the condition, which can result in redness, irritation, dry eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue, back and neck pain and headaches, experts recommend taking regular screen breaks, and also adjusting things like text size, posture, and computer setup. – AFP Relaxnews